Ch. 11

1530 A.D.

I'd originally intended to spend a longer amount of time in Europe, but meeting with Klaus again had reaffirmed what was important to me. My empire back in the Americas needed my guidance and I could no longer ignore it, especially when vampires created by my siblings had probably already made their way over to the new world and I had no intention of letting them kill the wolf packs I'd allied with.

In the end I managed to compel my way onto a Conquistador ship bound for what would one day become Brazil. From there I managed reconnected with my disciples along the communication network I'd established with them. In my absence, my power base had grown dramatically. As I'd thought, some vampires had arrived from the old world. They'd found a vampire hierarchy already in place and most had settled for following the rules I'd put in place it seemed.

Mostly, I was surprised to learn that all forty nine of my original Disciples were still accounted for. I'd been expecting to lose at least one or two over the decades I'd been gone but I suppose there was something to be said for spending a hundred and twenty years training them specifically in how to be vampires. Pleased that while I'd been failing overseas, my children had been succeeding, I sought out the one I'd left in charge, the elder sister of the girl I'd spared so long ago.

Her loyalty had been unquestionable after I spared her only remaining family, but I'd left nothing to chance, layering numerous compulsions to make sure she stepped not a toe out of line while I was gone. I found her in a meeting with unfamiliar vampires who I gave barely a glance as I strode in with arms spread, "Darling Ravia! It has been too long!"

As soon as she saw me, Ravia was across the room, slamming into my arms and hugging me in a blur of vamp speed. I chuckled and returned the hug for a moment before holding her at arms-length. I smiled at her as I watched her eyes clear up almost imperceptibly, the compulsions I'd layered onto her fading away in my presence as I'd commanded, and she smiled back shyly before ducking her head in deference to me.

"Thank you for your hard work my dear, it was much appreciated." I pet her hair and grinned at the way she leaned into my hand, before I stepped past her towards the table, taking in those who sat around it. They were mostly staring at Ravia and I with something akin to confusion and shock. It was more than understandable considering that part of the compulsions I'd placed on Ravia had changed her shy introverted personality into that of a charismatic leader.

Now she trailed behind me carefully and kept her gaze down, having reverted to her naturally shy personality. It was clearly a jarring change for the people she'd just been talking to, and I sighed as I fell into her seat at the end of the table and brought my hands together with a smile on my face, "Are you going to introduce our guests to me dear Ravia?"

She blinks before nodding, "Ah, of course Master. These are some of our kin from across the seas. They arrived a few months ago and upon finding our community already in place, they petitioned for membership. They have followed our rules well enough, but last week they discovered the werewolves to the North and felt compelled to make sure I was aware of the threat they posed to us."

I grin at that, "I see. Well, as you may have guessed, I am the Master. I'm sure you've heard of me."

I can see the recognition in their eyes at that, they've clearly been told of me. Most seem appropriately in awe, if not at least cautiously respectful but there's an idiot in every group. This was proven a moment later when one of those at the table scoffed and spoke up, "So you're the Master everyone's been gushing about. You don't look like much."

Ravia almost immediately moved to kill him, but I stop her with a hand and let out a laugh before standing to get a good look at my naysayer. The smile that had been growing on my face actually froze before turning into a frown as I took in the face of a familiar man. I can't help but satisfy my curiosity, "And your name is?"

He had an easy grin on his face that spoke of confidence not in himself, but in another as he replied, "Name's Trevor, but it's not me you should be worried about. You see, Mary over there is over three hundred years over. She was turned by an Original Vampire. So you'll have to excuse me if I don't see any point in licking your boots."

I looked over to where he gestured and laid eyes on what I could only assume was Mary Porter. She looked similar enough to the corpse impaled on a wall I'd seen in my past life. She also looked rather embarrassed on behalf of Trevor. I grinned as I looked around the table and found the third familiar face I'd missed. Rose-Marie sat there looking between Trevor, Mary, and I and she looked just as embarrassed.

Turning my attention back to Mary I grinned and cocked an eyebrow, "Is this true Mary? Should I be worried about you?"

I don't know if she saw something in my eyes but she shook her head slowly before responding, "No, regardless of our ages I have no desire to lead or usurp your community. You need to be worried about the werewolves in the North, on the full moon their bite is fatal to all of us."

I smile tightly at that, "Yes, about our ages…" In a flash I'd snapped Mary's neck and then lifted Trevor into the air with a hand firmly around his throat. The vampires around the table were slow to react to speed they could barely keep track of, but eventually everyone stood abruptly in alarm.

I swept my gaze over them imperiously and snarled out, "Sit down." I got an immediate response as every single one of them plopped back into their chairs with wide eyes. I smirked at that and then finally deigned to look at Trevor, whose hands were scrabbling at my wrist, attempting to remove the ironclad grip I had on his throat.

"Now then Trevor, here's what you need to know. I am over five hundred years old and I do not take kindly to disrespect or threats. Do you understand?"

He nodded frantically as best he could and I smiled, finally letting him drop back into his own chair and looking back at the rest of the table. Amusingly, it's Rose who speaks next, sounding disbelieving but also managing to keep a respectful tone, "Milord, how can you be over five hundred years old? The first family themselves were turned at the start of the 11th century."

I smirk at that, "Yes. We were." I enjoyed the shock and alarm on the faces of those around the table far too much as they took that in. Then Trevor and Rose's eyes locked over the table and a moment later they both made a run for the door. I was already expecting their little bolting action though and before they could get ten feet my hands closed around the scruff of their necks, pulling them back violently and tossing them onto the table in the center of the room.

That's when the Disciples that Ravia had subtly left to find earlier arrived to surround the table. Fifteen of my children each placed their iron grip on a vampire's shoulders and I smiled as I once again walked back towards the table, "I do apologize to those of you not involved in this little problem, but you seem to have fugitives amongst you. Ones who have very greatly disappointed my family."

As I approached, both Rose and Trevor were rolled off of the table and brought to their feet by my people to face me. I smiled as I saw that same fear they'd had for Elijah in their eyes when they looked at me. Rose was silent, awaiting her fate with quiet dignity, but Trevor was babbling apologies that I couldn't even really understand because of his blubbering.

Coming up on both of them, I raised my hands and clasped them on their shoulders, looking into their eyes, "I forgive you."

Rose's eyes widened in shock but it took Trevor a full minute for the words to register and his babbling finally died down as both of them just stared at me. I grinned and continued to talking, "It wasn't your fault. It was especially not your fault Rose, but Trevor, I understand being tricked by love. Katerina is the one who will answer for her crimes. The most you two are guilty of is being duped, and I forgive you for that."

Its Trevor who eventually answers as Rose seems to be speechless still, "I… thank you, but Klaus won't stop hunting us on your say so will he?"

I smirk at that, "Of course not, Klaus isn't nearly as forgiving as I am. But that's why you are both going to stay here with me, hidden. You and everyone in this room will take my Oath and serve me. In return I will protect you and keep you safe from my siblings for as long as is necessary."

He blinks at that, but seems accepting enough of the idea, "A-alright. What's this Oath then?"

I grin and move my hand from his shoulder to clasp the back of his neck as I lock my eyes with his and begin the compulsion. Once I'm done with Trevor I move to Rose and then I move around the room easily and have much of the room oathbound and compelled in short order.

As they settle back into their seats I smile, "Now, about the reason you called this meeting in the first place. The werewolf packs to the North are mine as much as you are. I have not spent two hundred years cultivating their loyalty to have vampires from the old world such as yourselves ruining that. So your first task is to watch for any of your brethren who might follow here. Point them out to my disciples and together we will make sure that any vampire who happens to arrive in my kingdom knows the rules. Am I understood?"

There are nods around the room and I smile before gesturing for my disciples to lead them out. Ravia remains behind, standing near where I'd left Mary with a broken neck, studying her as she lay there unconscious. I walk over and pull Ravia into a hug that she gratefully melts into. Kissing the top of her head I smile down at her, "Once again, you did wonderful sweetheart. I knew I could count on you. For now though, you are free to go. I'll handle this last one."

She nods shyly and leaves in a blur even as I pull Mary up and drop her in her chair. A moment later the woman described as an Original Groupie woke up with a start, gasping with wide eyes as she glanced around sharply. Her eyes fell on me and I grinned, grabbing her by the throat before she could react again. I initiated the compulsion and bound her to my Oath before releasing her. She breathed slowly as the cloudiness in her eyes faded away before looking at me with wide eyes.

"Y-you just compelled me didn't you?"

I chuckle lightly and nod, "I did yes. And yes, that does mean what you think it means."

Now she looks like a blushing schoolgirl, and I grin at her for a moment more before stepping away, "Anyways, as I told the rest of your friends, the werewolves are mine. I expect you and yours to protect them and make sure any vampires who follow you lot across the sea know not to break my rules. I'm sure we'll talk again soon."

And then I left her there, knowing that she'd be pursuing me soon enough given her proclivities for Originals. Could be a decent past time for a year or two until I finally decided to take her to bed.

-x-X-x-

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